TICA SS500 Trout Fishing Series(Crappie/Pan Fishing Series) 5.2 Gear Ratio review and price compare 2025

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Product overview

Brand	TICA
Material	Other
Hand Orientation	Ambidextrous
Color	Multi
Handle Material	Stainless Steel
Bearing Material	Stainless Steel

product features

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6 Rust-resistant ball bearings & 1 roller bearing
Mini bearing inside the line roller
Computer designed balanced rotor
Instant anti-reverse; graphite spool
Ambidextrous; soft touch handle knob with 2 stainless steel ball bearings

product description

Tica Cetus reels have taken the ice fishing by storm! Great for pan and squid fishing, it is not uncommon for an owner of a Cetus to have more than one. The SS500 features 6 rust-resistant ball bearings and 1 roller bearing. This reel is also equipped with instant anti-reverse, an extra graphite spool, and a computer designed balanced rotor which gives it smooth reeling for any light tackle application. The Cetus reel series are the smallest and lightest reels in the TICA product line; you will never get tired of casting and retrieving using Tica’s Cetus reels!

product details

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 6 x 7 inches; 8.8 Ounces
Item model number ‏ : ‎ SS500
Department ‏ : ‎ Unisex-adult
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ August 18, 2010
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ TICA
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000BS0IY4
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ Taiwan
Domestic Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
International Shipping: This item can be shipped to select countries outside of the U.S.

important information

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Questions about TICA SS500 Trout Fishing Series(Crappie/Pan Fishing Series) 5.2 Gear Ratio

How much does this reel alone weigh?

Answer: According to manufacturer data, reel alone weighs 6.3 ounces. Haven't verified this independently, but I can tell you that the reel is very light, rugged, super-smooth and TINY!

Answer: Could say, but is very light. I use it for trout in the summer and is light enough that I put it on my ice fishing rod in the winter.

Are the "Trout Series" and the ice fishing version one in the same? Or does Tica ship different variants for each purpose? (different lube type?)

Answer: They are the same. This reel is not designated as an "ice" reel, but lots of people use it that way. They are the best you'll find for the price, IMO. I own 3; they double as ice reels and open water panfish reels. Coupled with St. Croix Avid 6'-8" ML XF rods, a combo hard to beat.

Where is this made?

Answer: I believe it’s made in China, like so many others. However the quality is very high. Very, very smooth reel and I love the instant Anti-reverse function. Solid build..

How heavy test can it hold?

Why is sticker on say made in china?advertisement says made in usa.

Answer: I would say some parts are made in China but for the most part the majority of the reel was made in the USA.

Answer: The reel I received has Made in China on the bottom of the box!

Why the extra spool?

Answer: If line runs out on one spool you put the other spool on.

Answer: So you can switch line for different circumstances. For instances, you have 4 pound mono line on for trout fishing and want to switch to a braid line for casting rapalas into rocky areas.

Answer: one is for mono/flourocarbon and the other for braid.

Product reviews of TICA SS500 Trout Fishing Series(Crappie/Pan Fishing Series) 5.2 Gear Ratio

C Stricklin : Great little reel!

Great little reel. Awesome for trout, crappie and small panfish.

Slagathor : Top of the line reel for ice fishing or freshwater ultralight.

Brilliant reel designed for ice fishing but very well suited for freshwater ultralight rig. Top of the line reel. Super small and light but tough as nails. Highly recommended!

Cathy Otto : Fishing reel

Smooth operating reel

mary von fischer : ... my husband for ice fishing and he is very happy with it

Purchased for my husband for ice fishing and he is very happy with it.

Charles James Drollette : Amazing reel and a very effective drag system

Directly after receiving this reel I put it on a 7'6" Fenwick Eagle UL with 4 lb test and a 2 lb leader. Then proceeded to try for some perch and crappie. Little did I know the a monster steelhead would take the rig and proceeded to run me around for 25 min. The reel performed above and beyond what I could have expected and the fish was well above what I was trying to catch with it. Hoping to get more soon. Affirmation of the size of the fish with the picture attached. I am beyond happy with all aspects of the reel and glad I bought this one !!

Patrick Gillis : Nice little reels

Nice little reels. No back rotation, lock quick. Great buy for ice fishing. Look forward to getting lots of use out of them.

R. Tomei : Great, but it's not a Shimano.

Nice and light, works great. I own both this and a Shimano Sienna 500. Although they are very close in performance, the Shimano is less expensive and feels better when fishing.

Slagathor : Top of the line reel for ice fishing or freshwater ultralight.

Brilliant reel designed for ice fishing but very well suited for freshwater ultralight rig. Top of the line reel. Super small and light but tough as nails. Highly recommended!

skeelund : tica cetus ss500

Outstanding reel, paired it with a St. Croix Avid 7' ultralight. Smooth and silent, as good or better than any of my more expensive shimanos.

Cathy Otto : Fishing reel

Smooth operating reel

Dana Scott : "Reely" a Joy to Fish With

Own 2, 2 more on the wish list. Hands down, the best reel for light panfish rods in the summer, and the main attraction, ice fishing. I'll be ordering 2 more because I find myself looking for excuses to use the ice rod set ups with these reels, even though it may not be the "best" rigged for the situation. Life is too short to spend retying lines when you a guy should just have an arsenal ready to throw at 'em.
The fever spreads with these reels...Of our group of friends, many balked at the price tag, and now they all wonder how they survived without them!! One day on the water with this reel coupled with the right rod (St. Croix Legend w/ spring bobber or similar) and you won't look back. Happy fishing!!!

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